Official: Arsenal Announce the Signing of Martín Zubimendi Ibáñez

Arsenal have officially confirmed the arrival of Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, bringing an end to months of speculation. The 26-year-old joins the Gunners ahead of the 2025/26 season in what has been described as a landmark signing for the club, both in terms of quality and ambition.

Zubimendi, a deep-lying midfielder known for his intelligence, composure, and tactical awareness, was a pivotal figure for Real Sociedad in recent years. He played a central role in their impressive 2022/23 campaign, starting nearly every match as the Basque side secured their highest league finish in over a decade — fourth place in La Liga and a return to the Champions League after ten years.

His performances earned him widespread recognition across Europe and a regular place in Spain’s national team setup. Zubimendi has already made 19 senior appearances for La Roja, following up his Olympic silver medal in 2020 with two major international titles — the 2023 UEFA Nations League and the recently concluded UEFA Euro 2024, where he featured in the final as a second-half substitute during Spain’s 2-1 win over England.

In his first interview as an Arsenal player, Zubimendi expressed his excitement about joining the North London club:

“This is a huge moment in my career. It’s the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are.

“I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.”

Arsenal’s Sporting Director Andrea Berta, who led negotiations to bring the Spanish star to the Emirates, hailed Zubimendi as a key acquisition:

“We are so happy to bring Martin to Arsenal and have a lot of pride in finalising this transfer. Martin was a key target for us and we all know that he is a perfect fit for our squad with the high quality he has.

“We welcome Martin and his family to the club. We look forward to him settling in with his teammates and are very excited to see him playing in an Arsenal shirt.”

Zubimendi will wear the number 36 shirt and is expected to link up with the rest of the squad at the Sobha Realty Training Centre when the team reports for pre-season. His arrival is seen as a crucial move to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s midfield ahead of a season in which the Gunners will once again compete on multiple fronts, including the Premier League and Champions League.

With his leadership qualities, top-level experience, and technical brilliance, Zubimendi is widely expected to be a cornerstone of Arsenal’s midfield for years to come.